Chapter Two: Captive
581 Words
Elena Carter struggled violently as the guards pulled her toward the black car.
“Let me go!”
Rain soaked her hair and clothes, but the men didn’t loosen their grip.
Panic consumed her.
This couldn’t be happening.
One moment she had been walking home…
and now she was being kidnapped by dangerous strangers in the middle of Rome.
“Please!” she shouted desperately. “I didn’t do anything!”
No one answered.
The car door opened.
“Elena.”
Her breath caught.
The deep voice came from Damiano Russo.
Cold.
Calm.
Terrifying.
Elena froze instantly.
How did he know her name?
Damiano sat inside the car like a king surrounded by darkness, his sharp gaze fixed on her trembling figure.
“You investigated me?” she whispered.
“No,” he replied smoothly. “My men did.”
Fear crawled deeper into her chest.
Without warning, one of the guards pushed her inside.
Elena nearly fell onto the expensive leather seats.
The door slammed shut behind her.
And suddenly the world outside disappeared.
Only Damiano remained.
The car began moving.
Silence filled the space heavily.
Elena forced herself closer to the opposite door, putting as much distance between them as possible.
Damiano watched her quietly.
His black suit looked untouched despite the storm outside.
Perfect.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Elena hated how calm he looked after murdering someone.
“You killed him,” she said shakily.
Damiano’s expression didn’t change.
“He betrayed me.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to murder people!”
A dark chuckle escaped one of the guards sitting in front.
But Damiano remained emotionless.
“You speak boldly for someone in your position.”
Elena swallowed hard.
“I’m not scared of you.”
That was a lie.
A very stupid lie.
Because every instinct inside her screamed to fear this man.
Damiano leaned back slowly, studying her with unreadable eyes.
Then finally—
“You should be.”
The air inside the car suddenly felt colder.
Elena looked away first.
She hated that.
Hated the power he carried without even trying.
Minutes passed before the car finally stopped.
Elena frowned as she looked outside the tinted window.
Massive black gates stood ahead.
Beyond them sat a luxurious mansion glowing under the rain like something from a nightmare.
“No…” she whispered.
The gates opened slowly.
The car drove inside.
Elena’s stomach tightened.
This place was enormous.
Fountains.
Black cars.
Armed guards everywhere.
What kind of monster was this man?
The car stopped near the mansion entrance.
One guard opened Damiano’s door immediately.
Elena reached for the opposite handle desperately.
Locked.
Of course.
Damiano stepped out first before turning toward her.
“Come.”
Elena lifted her chin stubbornly.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
For the first time, amusement flickered briefly across his cold face.
Then suddenly—
Damiano reached inside the car.
His hand wrapped around Elena’s wrist firmly.
Heat exploded through her skin at the contact.
“W-What are you doing?”
“You’re testing my patience.”
Before Elena could react, Damiano pulled her out of the car completely.
She stumbled against his chest.
Strong arms caught her instantly.
And for one dangerous second…
everything around her disappeared.
The rain.
The guards.
The fear.
All she could feel was him.
Damiano lowered his head slightly, his lips near her ear.
“From now on,” he murmured darkly, “you stay where I can see you.”
- Writer
